What Is Arthritis & Rheumatism?
The condition of arthritis is medically defined as inflammation in a body joint. This inflammation can occur in a knuckle, a wrist, a knee, the spine and even the jaw, as well as other joints. Rheumatoid arthritis (also known as rheumatism) and osteoarthritis are the two most common types of arthritis and share the same main symptoms: joint stiffness and pain. Both conditions can progress from relatively mild to much more serious symptoms, eventually interfering with individuals' daily activities, such as walking and sitting.
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Normal Bone Joint Function
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In a normal bone joint, the two connecting bones are separated by a healthy, but small, amount of cartilage. This cartilage cushion prevents damage to each bone as it rubs against the other during movements, as well as preventing any pain from the movement. In addition, a small amount of synovial membrane surrounds the two joints where they meet, serving to lubricate and protect the joint. A sheath of fibers completes this protective covering by surrounding the synovial membrane.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
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In rheumatoid arthritis, the synovial membrane becomes inflamed, resulting in swelling around the joint. This swelling takes place beneath the skin's surface but makes the skin around the joint become tight, producing pain when the joint is moved. Swollen knuckle joints in the hands are a good example of this.
Hands and knuckles can become gnarled and drawn over a period of time due to this condition, as can other affected joints. If this condition persists long enough, without treatment, erosion of the bone joint becomes a serious possibility, as well as deformity.
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Demographics Affected by Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Women are up to three times more likely to get rheumatoid arthritis than men. People between 40 and 60 years old are most likely to get it; however, no age is exempt --- including children and those older than 60. While there is no cure for this type of arthritis, it is treatable, and surgery can be undertaken to address issues of deformity.
Osteoarthritis
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The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis, occurs when one bone rubs against another, abrasively, due to the lack of cartilage between them. The absence of cartilage can be due to an injury, an infection, or years of wear and tear; however, without cartilage to act as nature's cushion, our bones can destroy each other during normal body movements and cause intense pain as they do so. There is no cure for this type of arthritis, either but like rheumatoid arthritis, it is treatable.
Symptoms
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Symptoms of arthritis and rheumatism (rheumatoid arthritis) can include a loss of movement flexibility, tenderness when the joint is touched, pain and swelling in the joint area, a stiffness immediately following extended periods of inactivity, such as after sleep, and the sound of bone rubbing against bone. Bone spurs (hardened spots) can also appear in the affected joint area as well, protruding from the joint and making pain and swelling even more problematic.
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